Publication Date

12-2013

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Dr. Vladimir Dobrokhotov (Director), Dr. Keith Andrew, Dr. Doug Harper

Degree Program

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

The interactive wireless sensor detects many hazardous gases such as Hexane, Propane, Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen. These gases are highly toxic and used in different kinds of manufacturing industries, domestic purpose and so on. So, building a sensor that can detect this kind of gases can save the environment; prevent the potential for explosion, and endangering human life. In long term, interactive wireless sensor can also prevent the financial losses that might occur due to the hazardous incident that might occur due to these toxic gases.

Hexane is a colorless, strong gas which inhaled in significant amounts by a person then he may suffer with hexane poisoning and suffocation. It also causes skin burns when exposed in high concentrations. Propane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen can easily freeze in room temperature, if in contact with eye, it could permanently damage eye or cause blindness. The advantage of this wireless sensor is the use of artificial olfactory system (electronic nose) that can be taught to detect these hazardous gases. This sensor has a unique molecular combination of analysts, impurities and background that corresponds to a gas leak. It consists of a chemiresistor, such as an array of conductometric sensors, and a mechanism analyzing the data in real time. A smell-print is composed of many molecules which reaches receptor in the human nose. When a specific receptor receives a molecule, it sends a signal to the brain where the smell is identified and associated with that particular molecule. Similar manner, albeit substituting sensors for the receptors, and transmitting the signal to a machine learning algorithm for processing, rather than to the brain.

This wireless gas leak sensing consists of microchip Pic 32, integrated electronic nose, automated data analysis unit, power supply, and communications. The communication channel will use the ZigBee link, or the cellular links, or other specific frequency wireless link. The time-stamped and position-stamped sensor measurement data are transmitted to the central computer in predetermined periods of time. The data will be stored in the computer database for possible future analysis of the gas leak development process.

Disciplines

Biological and Chemical Physics | Materials Chemistry | Physics

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